Alfalfa products and method for producing alfalfa products for a sequential harvesting system

ABSTRACT

An alfalfa product, hybrids and non-hybrids, and a method for synthesizing an alfalfa product having increased uniformity for preselected traits having improved uniformity of one or more selected traits, including flowering dates, flower frequency, maturity rate, growth rate, fall dormancy and winterhardiness. The alfalfa product may also include improved predictability of these traits. A scheduled harvest system may be established using two or more varieties of the alfalfa product having different and predictable mean flowering dates. The scheduled harvest system may be designed to allow for harvesting of alfalfa varieties at maximum relative feeding value. The method may be used to synthesize an alfalfa product having one or more predetermined traits. The method selects germplasm, including a cytoplasmic male sterile line, a genetic male sterile line, a maintainer line, a restorer line and a line having normal cytoplasm, having agronomically desirable traits. Plants grown from the germplasm are classified and grouped for predetermined traits at different stages of testing and seed increase. The method selects genetically desirable plants having the predetermined traits for seed increase.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/362,183, filed on Dec. 22, 1994, now abandoned.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to alfalfa, and more particularly to alfalfa products and a method of synthesizing or hybridizing alfalfa products having improved uniformity of selected traits.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plants, and food plants in particular, such as alfalfa play an important role in everyday life. Alfalfa, genus Medicago Sativa, perhaps the most important forage crop species in the world, provides one of the most effective sources of biological nitrogen fixation. While being an extremely energy-efficient food source, alfalfa also provides an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Alfalfa improves soil tilth making it ideal for crop-rotation. Crop-rotation replenishes nutrients in soil depleted from other crops, such as corn.

The area of alfalfa cut for hay in the United States exceeds 25 million acres. Commercial alfalfa seed may be provided either in a synthetic variety or a hybrid variety. The prior art commercial production of alfalfa seed involves multiple stages. For synthetic varieties the stages may include a breeder seed production stage, a foundation seed production stage, a register seed production stage and a certified seed production stage. Hybrid variety seed production may involve up to three stages including a breeder seed production stage, a foundation seed production stage and a certified seed production stage.

Breeder seed is an initial increase of seed produced from the strains or clones that are developed by a breeder. Foundation seed is a second generation increase of seed produced from the breeder seed. Register seed may be derived from foundation seed. Certified seed may be derived from breeder seed, foundation seed or register seed. Breeder seed descends from a selection of recorded origin, under the direct control of the breeder, a delegated representative or a state or federal inspection service, such as the AOSCA (Association of Official Seed Certification Analysts) in the U.S.A. Certified seed is used in commercial crop production. Certified seed is usually grown, processed and labeled under supervision and regulation of a public agency.

Efforts in developing healthy and productive alfalfa varieties often focus on breeding for disease and stress-resistant cultivars, for example, breeding for persistence, breeding for adaptation to specific environments, breeding for yield per se, and breeding for quality. Success has been attained in breeding for resistance to such diseases as bacterial wilt, see, e.g., Elgin, Jr., et al., "Breeding for Disease and Nematode Resistance," Alfalfa and Alfalfa Improvement (ed. by Hanson, A. A., et al. 1988), pp. 830-832; anthracnose, id. at 832-833; and common leaf spot, id. at 835-836. Breeders have had less success in breeding for yield and quality per se, although methods have been developed that help increase productivity and yield, see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,912 to Sun, incorporated herein by reference. Historically, yield and productivity, quality and persistence are objectives of high concern to farmers.

In the area of breeding for adaptation to specific climates, breeders have developed winterhardy varieties of alfalfa for growing in colder climates. In general, breeders developed winterhardy varieties by using an average fall dormancy score or fall growth score as a predictor. Average fall dormancy scores are made on a scale of one to nine, with a score of nine reflecting the highest fall growth and a score of one reflecting the lowest fall growth. A correlation coefficient as high as 0.95 has been reported between average fall dormancy score and winter injury score. See Barnes, D. K., et al., "Fall Dormancy Score in Alfalfa: A Valuable Predictive Tool," Report of the 26th Alfalfa Improvement Conference, Brookings, S. D. (ed. by Barnes, D. K. Jun. 6-8, 1978), p. 34. However, even in winterhardy varieties of alfalfa, there is significant variation and lack of uniformity among individual alfalfa plants in their degree of winterhardiness, thereby decreasing the potential productivity of these varieties.

A number of other factors also limit the yield and quality of alfalfa fields. In particular, the lack of uniformity in development rate, sometimes measured by flowering dates, is one factor that can cause yield from alfalfa fields to be less than optimal. The highest growth rate for yield and quality of individual alfalfa plants occurs from the early bud to the late bud stage. The date this stage occurs in individual plants varies widely. As a practical matter, however, the harvester of a field of alfalfa must harvest the entire field at one time. As a consequence, when a field of alfalfa plants lacks uniformity in flowering dates or maturity, a high proportion of harvested plants have reduced yield and nutrient value, either because they are too old or too young.

Like flowering dates, another factor that limits the yield of an alfalfa plant may be the lack of uniformity in flowering frequency. Individual alfalfa plants may flower once, twice, three times, ten times or more over the course of a year. Generally, the higher the flowering frequency, the faster the alfalfa plant develops, and the lower the flowering frequency, the slower the alfalfa plant develops. Flower frequency and flowering dates varies widely in a population of alfalfa plants. For maximum yield and quality of alfalfa, the producer's harvest frequency should be synchronized with the flowering frequency.

Lack of uniformity in fall dormancy also has reduced the yield and quality of alfalfa fields in both colder and warmer climates. Varieties having uniformity and shorter fall dormancy in either warmer or colder climates may increase the length of the growing season and reduce dormancy time. Consequently, both yield and quality may be increased.

To date, most alfalfa breeding programs emphasize maximizing the heterogeneity of a given alfalfa variety in order to improve yield and stability. This approach, however, results in wide variation in many characteristics, such as flowering dates, flower frequency, development rate, growth rate, fall dormancy and winterhardiness. Prior art breeding methods do not emphasize improving the uniformity of these characteristics. Rather, prior art breeding methods emphasize selection of good germplasm for specific purposes, such as disease resistance, regardless of uniformity for other characteristics.

Prior art methods do not perform selection for desired traits after the stage of increasing seed. Prior art methods also do not include selection of individual plants for the traits of flowering dates, flower frequency, development rate, growth rate and fall dormancy. Furthermore, prior art breeding methods have not included subsequent classification stages of individual plants for these traits.

It is therefore a motivation of the invention to provide alfalfa and an alfalfa product and a process for synthesizing alfalfa and an alfalfa product that improves uniformity of selected traits.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides alfalfa and an alfalfa product having improved uniformity of one or more selected traits including flowering dates, flower frequency, development rate, growth rate, fall dormancy and winterhardiness. The alfalfa product may also provide improved predictability of these traits. By using two or more of the invented alfalfa products having different mean flowering dates, a scheduled harvest system may be established. The scheduled harvest system may be designed to allow harvesting of alfalfa varieties at maximum relative feeding value. The invention also includes a method for synthesizing an alfalfa product having increased uniformity for preselected traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description. It should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To illustrate this invention, a preferred embodiment will be described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show flow diagrams of one preferred embodiment of a process used to develop novel alfalfa products.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show example embodiments of a harvesting schedule that may be established with the novel alfalfa product of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention includes novel varieties of alfalfa that have a high degree of uniformity in one or more selected traits including flowering dates, flower frequency, development rate, growth rate, fall dormancy and winterhardiness. The invention also includes novel varieties of alfalfa that have a high degree of predictability for a selected trait. These novel alfalfa varieties may also have the same level of winterhardiness with the same or specifically different fall dormancy, the same level of winterhardiness with the same or specifically different flower frequencies, the same level of winterhardiness with the same or specifically different flowering dates or specifically different levels of winterhardiness with the same fall dormancy, flower frequencies or flowering dates. These novel alfalfa varieties also may flower significantly earlier than standard (synthetic) varieties for each flowering date or flower significantly later than the standard synthetic varieties for each flowering date. These novel alfalfa varieties produce more consistent, predictable and repeatable results for the characteristics described above than the standard synthetic varieties.

The present invention further includes novel varieties that break their dormancy significantly earlier than the standard varieties, and novel varieties that go to dormancy significantly later than the standard varieties, allowing for an extra cutting or harvest, and thereby extending the productive season for alfalfa.

The present invention includes novel varieties that have a slow development rate and reach maturity for harvest significantly later than the standard varieties, thus reducing harvest frequencies. These novel varieties maintain quality, or relative feeding value (R.F.V.), longer than standard varieties, thus increasing the harvest window for quality. These novel varieties may have the same or faster growth rate, but slower development rate. Furthermore, the invented harvesting system enables alfalfa growers to reduce the risk of a delay in harvesting high quality alfalfa from weather factors such as rain and reduce the risk of rain damage to freshly cut alfalfa.

By using two or more of the present invented novel varieties with different maturities and different flower frequencies, alfalfa growers may select harvest time and harvest frequencies in order to improve labor distribution over harvesting procedures used with standard varieties.

The present invention may include cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS), restorer, maintainer strains and "C" lines, contrasting with the standard (synthetic) strains that use only "C" strains for product development. An "A" line may be defined as a clone or seed line of a cytoplasmic male sterile (CMS) or genetic male sterile plant or seed line. A "B" line may be defined as a clone or seed line of a male sterile maintainer that will produce a CMS when crossed with a CMS. A "C" line may be defined as a clone or seed line with normal cytoplasm that when crossed with a CMS, has progeny that segregates between male fertility and sterility. An "R" line may be defined as a clone or seed line of a male fertility restorer that when crossed with a CMS produces predominately male fertile plants.

A synthesizer of the alfalfa and the alfalfa products may identify the winterhardiness, fall dormancy, flower frequency and flower date of each individual clone of "CMS", maintainer, restorer and "C" strains. The synthesizer also identifies uniformity of winterhardiness, fall dormancy, flower frequency and flowering dates of the progenies of A×B, A×C, A×R, C×C and the selfing progenies of B, C and R and makes selections for product development.

In one embodiment, the synthesizer planted three hundred seeds from each synthetic population, each clonal progeny and each hybrid population in a greenhouse in January., 1988. The synthesizer transplanted two hundred plants from each population into a field in May 1988.

The clonal progeny and hybrid populations were then studied for variation in winterhardiness, fall dormancy, flowering dates and flowering frequency, and compared against synthetic varieties (Vernal, Magnum plus, WL320and Saranac). Tables I-IV report the results. Table I sets forth the severity of winter injury recorded for each strain of the synthetic, clonal progeny and hybrid populations. Table II shows a distribution of flower frequency for each population. Table III sets forth the mean flowering date for each flowering date, along with a range, difference and standard deviation. Table IV sets forth fall dormancy distributions for selected populations of the synthetic, clonal progeny and hybrid populations.

                  TABLE I                                                          ______________________________________                                         Winter Injury of Synthetic Varieties, Clonal Progenies and                     Experimental Products                                                          Experiment Conducted at D.R.I. Experimental Farm,                              Winter of 1988-1989,                                                           Clinton, Wisconsin                                                                                      No    Partial                                                                              Severe                                                                               Winter                                                Pop.   Injury                                                                               Injury                                                                               Injury                                                                               Kill                                Class  Entry      Size   %     %     %     %                                   ______________________________________                                         Synthetics                                                                            Vernal     159    63.3  20.9  14.6  1.9                                        Magnum plus                                                                               163    63.8  15.3  15.3  5.5                                        WL320      157    50.3  13.4  25.5  10.8                                       Saranac    150    65.3  19.3  9.3   6.0                                 Clonal 5          152    61.2  13.2  18.4  7.2                                 Progeny                                                                               6          105    53.3  19.0  20.0  7.6                                        7          153    49.7  15.0  26.1  9.2                                        8          118    87.3  10.2  1.7   0.8                                        9          118    37.3  13.6  33.1  16.1                                       10         111    17.1  18.9  42.3  21.6                                       11         104    65.4  14.4  14.4  5.8                                        12         164    51.2  14.6  20.1  14.0                                       13         120    55.0  16.7  20.8  7.5                                        14         160    51.9  15.0  23.7  9.4                                        15         109    39.4  18.3  39.4  2.8                                        16         155    80.6  4.5   8.4   6.5                                        17         112    32.1  14.3  25.0  28.6                                       18         112    66.1  16.1  16.1  1.8                                        19         151    73.5  13.9  9.9   2.6                                 Syn-   20         152    65.8  22.4  7.9   3.9                                 thesized                                                                              21         109    78.0  12.8  6.4   2.8                                 Product                                                                               22         114    68.4  9.6   16.7  5.3                                 (Single                                                                               23         110    66.4  15.5  16.4  1.8                                 Cross) 24         156    53.2  15.4  19.9  11.5                                       25         112    53.6  15.2  24.1  7.1                                        26         93     77.4  8.6   4.3   9.7                                        27         113    75.2  14.2  8.8   1.8                                 ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE II                                                         ______________________________________                                         Flower Frequencies of Synthetics, Clonal Progenies and                         Experimental Products                                                                      Flower Frequencies                                                             (number and percent of population)                                 Class Entry    Total  (2) %    (3) %    (4) %    (5) %                         ______________________________________                                         Syn-  Vernal   116    6   5.2  71  61.2 39  33.6 0                             thetic                                                                               Magnum   104    2   1.9  40  38.5 62  59.6 0                                   plus                                                                           WL320    79              29  36.7 48  60.8 3   3.8                             Saranac  98     4   4.1  55  56.1 40  41.0 1   1.0                       Clonal                                                                               5        76              41  53.9 35  46.1                               Progeny                                                                              6        69     13  18.8 21  30.4 32  46.4 3   4.4                             7        71              35  49.3 36  50.7                                     8        116    3   2.6  80  69.0 33  28.4                                     9        53     8   15.1 33  62.3 12  22.6                                     10       19              2   10.5 17  89.5                                     11       68              52  76.5 16  23.5                                     12       79              35  46.8 42  53.2                                     13       66              6   9.1  55  83.3 5   7.6                             14       71              40  56.3 31  43.7                                     15       43              39  90.7 4   9.3                                      16       105    4   3.8  65  61.9 36  34.3                                     17       36              14  38.9 22  61.1                                     18       74     1   1.3  46  62.2 27  36.5                                     19       85              83  97.6 2   2.4                                Syn-  20       75              12  16.0 62  82.7 1   1.3                       thesized                                                                             21       89              43  48.3 46  51.7                               Product                                                                              22       82              43  52.4 39  47.6                               (Single                                                                              23       87              34  39.1 51  58.6 2   2.3                       Cross)                                                                               24       77              7   9.1  65  84.4 5   6.5                             25       60              18  30.0 42  70.0                                     26       82              26  31.7 49  59.8 7   8.5                             27       105             38  36.2 67  63.8                               ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE III                                    __________________________________________________________________________     Mean, Range and Standard Deviation of 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th                    Flower Dates of Synthetics,                                                    Clonal Progenies and Experimental Products                                     __________________________________________________________________________                  Init 1st Flower Date                                                                              2nd Flower Date                                Class Entry  Pop Size                                                                            Mean                                                                              Range                                                                               Diff                                                                              S.D.                                                                              Mean                                                                              Range                                                                               Diff                                                                              S.D.                                __________________________________________________________________________     Synthetics                                                                           Vernal 159  157.3                                                                             143-170                                                                             27 5.19                                                                              183.9                                                                             175-192                                                                             17 3.87                                      Oneida VR                                                                             160  156.2                                                                             142-168                                                                             26 4.52                                                                              185.0                                                                             175-194                                                                             19 3.86                                      Magnum plus                                                                           163  155.9                                                                             145-169                                                                             24 4.56                                                                              182.6                                                                             172-197                                                                             15 4.32                                      Mean        156.5   26 4.76                                                                              183.8   17 4.02                                Clonal                                                                               10     111  152.6                                                                             144-162                                                                             18 4.45                                                                              188.2                                                                             182-193                                                                             11 3.47                                Progeny                                                                               6     105  154.9                                                                             143-163                                                                             20 4.42                                                                              187.8                                                                             179-196                                                                             17 3.66                                      15     109  155.1                                                                             142-163                                                                             21 4.04                                                                              191.1                                                                             185-196                                                                             11 2.91                                      13     120  155.2                                                                             148-163                                                                             17 3.63                                                                              183.7                                                                             179-196                                                                             11 3.98                                      11     104  155.8                                                                             143-164                                                                             21 4.74                                                                              188.9                                                                             178-195                                                                             17 2.94                                       9     118  158.1                                                                             143-166                                                                             23 4.62                                                                              185.6                                                                             176-199                                                                             23 5.76                                      19     151  158.3                                                                             147-168                                                                             21 3.82                                                                              185.6                                                                             175-198                                                                             23 4.46                                       5     152  158.6                                                                             148-169                                                                             21 4.82                                                                              184.7                                                                             173-194                                                                             21 4.17                                      18     112  158.6                                                                             148-166                                                                             18 3.15                                                                              185.8                                                                             179-192                                                                             13 2.75                                      14     160  159.5                                                                             148-168                                                                             20 4.42                                                                              183.6                                                                             175-192                                                                             17 3.46                                       7     153  159.6                                                                             145-169                                                                             24 6.30                                                                              182.8                                                                             172-191                                                                             19 3.76                                       8     118  159.9                                                                             147-169                                                                             22 4.39                                                                              186.3                                                                             177-195                                                                             18 3.95                                      16     155  160.4                                                                             150-174                                                                             24 4.28                                                                              183.6                                                                             172-199                                                                             27 4.42                                      Mean        157.4   21 4.31                                                                              186.0   18 3.82                                Synthesized                                                                          25     112  156.6                                                                             147-166                                                                             19 4.19                                                                              186.8                                                                             178-194                                                                             16 3.62                                Products                                                                             24     156  156.7                                                                             145-167                                                                             22 4.42                                                                              182.9                                                                             177-199                                                                             22 4.17                                Single Cross                                                                         20     152  156.7                                                                             145-165                                                                             20 4.42                                                                              182.7                                                                             173-189                                                                             16 3.79                                      23     110  157.2                                                                             144-166                                                                             22 4.58                                                                              186.6                                                                             178-199                                                                             21 4.29                                      26     93   157.2                                                                             146-165                                                                             19 4.67                                                                              184.7                                                                             176-198                                                                             22 4.30                                      27     113  157.3                                                                             145-165                                                                             20 4.18                                                                              186.8                                                                             176-196                                                                             20 3.53                                      22     114  157.8                                                                             144-168                                                                             24 4.63                                                                              186.5                                                                             177-194                                                                             17 3.46                                      21     109  159.8                                                                             148-172                                                                             24 4.38                                                                              186.2                                                                             176-198                                                                             22 3.98                                Mean              157.4   21 4.43                                                                              185.4   20 3.89                                Mean              157.3   21.5  185.7   19.2                                   __________________________________________________________________________                  Init 3rd Flower Date                                                                              4th Flower Date                                Class Entry  Pop Size                                                                            Mean                                                                              Range                                                                               Diff                                                                              S.D.                                                                              Mean                                                                              Range                                                                               Diff                                                                              S.D.                                __________________________________________________________________________     Synthetics                                                                           Vernal 159  218.9                                                                             207-239                                                                             32 5.79                                                                              255.7                                                                             233-269                                                                             36 7.25                                      Oneida VR   215.8                                                                             204-244                                                                             40 5.83                                                                              255.4                                                                             243-268                                                                             25 6.35                                      Magnum plus                                                                           163  216.2                                                                             205-264                                                                             56 7.26                                                                              254.3                                                                             238-269                                                                             31 7.72                                      Mean        217.0   43 6.29                                                                              255.1   31 7.11                                Clonal                                                                               10     111  210.7                                                                             205-220                                                                             15 4.57                                                                              249.1                                                                             240-262                                                                             22 6.90                                Progeny                                                                               6     105  214.5                                                                             205-224                                                                             19 5.05                                                                              246.6                                                                             235-263                                                                             28 6.27                                      15     109  222.9                                                                             207-250                                                                             43 9.26                                                                              250.2                                                                             243-257                                                                             14 4.97                                      13     120  211.4                                                                             205-223                                                                             18 4.21                                                                              249.4                                                                             240-262                                                                             22 6.74                                      11     104  220.1                                                                             209-251                                                                             42 7.24                                                                              255.7                                                                             249-265                                                                             16 5.10                                       9     118  221.3                                                                             207-257                                                                             50 8.54                                                                              255.8                                                                             247-262                                                                             15 4.80                                      19     151  219.4                                                                             209-233                                                                             24 6.10                                                                              257.5                                                                             248-266                                                                             18 5.25                                       5     152  217.4                                                                             206-232                                                                             26 5.74                                                                              255.6                                                                             242-265                                                                             23 5.62                                      18     112  217.4                                                                             206-234                                                                             28 7.28                                                                              251.0                                                                             233-262                                                                             29 7.43                                      14     160  218.0                                                                             208-234                                                                             26 5.53                                                                              255.9                                                                             243-265                                                                             22 5.95                                       7     153  214.5                                                                             205-226                                                                             21 5.01                                                                              257.0                                                                             244-267                                                                             23 5.78                                       8     118  217.0                                                                             205-243                                                                             38 6.21                                                                              252.4                                                                             237-264                                                                             27 7.27                                      16     155  217.1                                                                             206-239                                                                             33 6.24                                                                              256.9                                                                             241-269                                                                             28 5.97                                      Mean        217.1   29 6.23                                                                              253.3   22 6.00                                Synthesized                                                                          25     112  212.7                                                                             205-227                                                                             22 4.13                                                                              250.2                                                                             236-267                                                                             31 7.09                                Products                                                                             24     156  213.0                                                                             204-235                                                                             31 4.79                                                                              249.7                                                                             233-265                                                                             32 6.52                                Single Cross                                                                         20     152  215.0                                                                             206-246                                                                             40 6.31                                                                              252.8                                                                             238-269                                                                             31 6.11                                      23     110  213.4                                                                             205-224                                                                             19 4.49                                                                              250.9                                                                             236-264                                                                             28 7.22                                      26     93   211.7                                                                             207-235                                                                             28 6.46                                                                              247.3                                                                             233-264                                                                             31 7.70                                      27     113  213.4                                                                             207-222                                                                             15 3.48                                                                              251.0                                                                             237-263                                                                             26 5.34                                      22     114  216.0                                                                             207-239                                                                             32 6.65                                                                              252.9                                                                             239-266                                                                             27 7.79                                      21     109  217.1                                                                             206-244                                                                             38 5.84                                                                              253.2                                                                             240-265                                                                             25 6.38                                Mean              214.0   28 5.27                                                                              251.0   29 6.77                                Mean              216.0   21.1  252.8   25.4                                   __________________________________________________________________________                                         F.                                                                        Init Date                                                                              Range                                                                              S.D.                                                  Class Entry  Pop Size                                                                            Total                                                                             Total                                                                              Total                               __________________________________________________________________________                       Synthetics                                                                           Vernal 159  157.8                                                                             112 22.1                                                        Oneida VR   154.4                                                                             110 20.6                                                        Magnum plus                                                                           163  151.0                                                                             126 23.9                                                        Mean        154.4                                                                             116 22.2                                                  Clonal                                                                               10     111  142.6                                                                             66  19.4                                                  Progeny                                                                               6     105  145.8                                                                             84  19.4                                                        15     109  161.3                                                                             89  21.2                                                        13     120  141.7                                                                             74  18.6                                                        11     104  162.5                                                                             96  20.0                                                         9     118  162.8                                                                             121 23.7                                                        19     151  162.8                                                                             86  19.6                                                         5     152  158.3                                                                             91  20.4                                                        18     112  154.8                                                                             88  20.6                                                        14     160  159.0                                                                             85  19.4                                                         7     153  155.9                                                                             87  19.9                                                         8     118  157.6                                                                             105 21.8                                                        16     155  160.0                                                                             122 20.9                                                        Mean        155.8                                                                             92  20.4                                                  Synthesized                                                                          25     112  148.3                                                                             88  19.0                                                  Products                                                                             24     156  144.3                                                                             107 19.9                                                  Single Cross                                                                         20     152  149.2                                                                             107 20.6                                                        23     110  150.1                                                                             90  20.6                                                        26     93   142.9                                                                             100 23.1                                                        27     113  150.5                                                                             81  16.5                                                        22     114  155.2                                                                             100 22.5                                                        21     109  158.3                                                                             109 20.6                                                  Mean              149.9                                                                             98  20.4                                __________________________________________________________________________

                                      TABLE IV                                     __________________________________________________________________________     Fall Dormancy Distribution of Selected Populations                             Measurements Were Taken in 1989.                                                                    Fall Height in Inches (% of Population)                   Class  Entry   Pop. Size                                                                            1-4 5-8 9-12                                                                               13-16                                                                               17-20                                                                               21-24                                                                               25-28                                                                               29-32                     __________________________________________________________________________     Synthetics                                                                            Vernal  147   39.40                                                                              12.20                                                                              10.80                                                                              15.00                                                                               19.10                                                                               2.80 0.70                                  Saranac 124   43.50                                                                              7.20                                                                               10.40                                                                              19.40                                                                               12.80                                                                               4.00 2.40                                  Magnum Plus                                                                            134   35.00                                                                              9.70                                                                               13.40                                                                              15.60                                                                               16.50                                                                               9.60                                Clonal 6       97    20.70                                                                              12.40                                                                              2.10                                                                               20.70                                                                               29.90                                                                               10.40                                                                               4.10                           Progeny                                                                               7       113   20.30                                                                              12.40                                                                              6.30                                                                               12.50                                                                               20.30                                                                               22.20                                                                               5.40 0.90                             8       94    39.50                                                                              19.10                                                                              9.60                                                                               10.70                                                                               16.00                                                                               5.30                                       9       137   55.40                                                                              11.60                                                                              8.10                                                                               11.70                                                                               9.50 3.70                                       10      128   56.30                                                                              12.40                                                                              10.10                                                                              6.20 6.30 7.10 1.60                                  11      98    32.60                                                                              10.20                                                                              9.10                                                                               28.50                                                                               14.20                                                                               4.10 1.00                                  12      103   29.20                                                                              17.50                                                                              15.60                                                                              19.40                                                                               10.70                                                                               7.80                                       13      85    44.70                                                                              7.10                                                                               20.00                                                                              19.90                                                                               5.90 1.20 1.20                                  14      105   49.60                                                                              14.40                                                                              6.80                                                                               16.20                                                                               6.80 4.80 2.00                                  15      144   54.20                                                                              13.30                                                                              6.30                                                                               7.70 8.40 7.70 2.80                                  16      76    54.00                                                                              18.40                                                                              10.40                                                                              5.20 7.80 3.90                                       17      141   47.60                                                                              13.40                                                                              7.00                                                                               9.20 17.10                                                                               4.90 0.70                                  18      108   16.80                                                                              13.00                                                                              13.90                                                                              20.40                                                                               18.60                                                                               12.10                                                                               4.60 0.90                             19      147   23.10                                                                              12.30                                                                              18.40                                                                              27.30                                                                               12.90                                                                               4.10 2.10                           Synthesized                                                                           101     33    18.20                                                                              48.60                                                                              30.30                                                                              3.00                                          Products                                                                              102     35        65.70                                                                              34.30                                                    103     110   2.70                                                                               45.50                                                                              42.60                                                                              9.10                                          __________________________________________________________________________

The results of one study, conducted by the applicant and reported in Tables I-IV, shows that different alfalfa populations and individual plants had different degrees of winterhardiness, different flowering frequencies, different fall dormancy and different flowering dates. Moreover, within populations, there was variation with respect to each of these traits. However, some populations showed less variation and greater uniformity than others with respect to a given trait. For example, Table I shows that in one alfalfa strain of the invention, the population of clonal progeny no. 8 plants, 87.3% of the population exhibited no winter injury, and less than 1% exhibited winter kill. In contrast, in the synthetic variety WL320population, only 50.3% of the plants exhibited no winter injury, 13.4% exhibited partial winter injury, 25.5% exhibited severe winter injury, and 10.8% exhibited winter kill.

Table II shows the variation in the flower frequencies of each strain. As with winter injury, different populations exhibited different levels of variation in regard to flower frequencies. For example, Saranac shows wide variation in flower frequency, 56.1% of plants flowering three times and 41.0% of plants flowering four times. The population of Clonal progeny no. 8, on the other hand, shows greater uniformity, 69% of plants flowering three times and 28.4% of plants flowering four times. The study, as set forth on Table III, also shows that certain alfalfa populations, for example, the population of clonal progeny No. 13 plants, had a total mean flowering date about 9 days earlier than that of the earliest commercially-available synthetic variety tested (Magnum plus), and some experimental populations, for example, clonal progeny no. 19 plants, had a total mean flowering date about 5 days later than that of the latest commercially-available synthetic variety tested (Vernal).

Finally, Table IV reports the variation in fall dormancy of selected populations. Variation in fall dormancy, as measured by the fall height in inches, varies widely in synthetic strains, such as Saranac, where a large proportion of plants had a measured fall height in inches ranging from 1 to 20 inches. Experimental population 103 shows greatly improved uniformity, having over 88% of plants ranging from 5 to 12 inches.

Product Synthesizing Process

Refer now to FIGS. 1A and 1B which show process flow diagrams of one preferred embodiment of a process used to synthesize the invented alfalfa product. The product synthesis process begins with the selection of suitable alfalfa germplasm in step 10. A synthesizer grows individuals representing each germplasm strain in a greenhouse, a field or both, where each germplasm strain is subjected to disease and insect screening in step 20. In one example embodiment of the method of the invention, the synthesizer plants alfalfa seeds from different alfalfa strains from a germ plasm bank and inoculates them with multiple disease innoculums and insects. The synthesizer selects the healthiest plants in terms of disease resistance and insect resistance in step 30. The synthesizer then transplants the selected plants to a clonal nursery. The synthesizer then inspects each plant individually and classifies each plant into categories in step 40. In one embodiment the synthesizer classifies each plant according to preselected traits such as fall dormancy, winter hardiness, flower frequency and maturity.

After classification, the synthesizer may evaluate each individual plant for quality, or feed value, and other desirable agronomic traits in step 50. The synthesizer groups those plants passing a predetermined threshold according to their classifications and the synthesizer's research and development purposes in step 60. All other plants may be discarded in step 70.

In one example embodiment, the synthesizer groups the plants into three categories 80, 82 and 84. The first category includes plants having the traits of early maturity, four flowerings and a fall dormancy classification of 4. The second category includes plants having the traits of medium maturity, three flowerings and a fall dormancy classification of 3. The third category includes plants having the traits of late maturity, two flowerings and a fall dormancy classification of 2. However, these combinations are given by way of example only, and many other combinations of maturity, flower frequency and fall dormancy are possible and within the scope of the invention.

The synthesizer then ships the plants of each group to a research station where they are planted in a test plot. The groups may undergo a poly cross and selfing, a top cross or a crossing block to produce selfed seeds, poly cross seeds, top cross seeds and single cross hybrid seeds in steps 90, 92 and 94. The synthesizer subjects the seed produced by each group to a forage yield test and a progeny test for uniformity of maturity, uniformity of flower frequency and uniformity of fall dormancy in step 100. In the progeny nursery, the synthesizer records data for each individual plant. In step 110, the synthesizer selects the plants or clones for which the progeny and F₁ seeds have a high degree of uniformity for fall dormancy, flowering frequency and flowering dates and for which the progeny seeds also exhibit high forage yield. The selected plants may include CMS plants, hereinafter referred to as "A" lines, maintainer plants, hereinafter referred to as "B" lines, restorer plants, hereinafter referred to as "R" lines, and male sterility segregating plants, hereinafter referred to as "C" lines. The synthesizer recycles plants failing these tests, such as those from non-uniform lines, in step 120. Recycling may involve selecting plants from selfed seeds and returning them to process step 40.

The synthesizer may produce breeder seeds in step 130 from the selections in step 110. Production of breeder seeds may be done by control pollination using an "A" line (cytoplasmic male sterile strain) with a "B", "C" or "R" line. The synthesizer may also employ random pollination, usually for propagation of a pollenizer line of breeder seeds. Random pollination occurs when a CMS strain is not used. Such crosses, and various advantageous processes for producing alfalfa seeds through the use of such crosses, are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,912 to Sun, entitled "PRODUCTION OF ALFALFA SEEDS" U.S. Pat. No. 4,045,912 is incorporated herein by reference. U.S. Pat. No. 3,570,181 to Davis, entitled "HYBRID ALFALFA PRODUCTION", describes the production and recovery of CMS alfalfa plants. Additionally, at each step of product synthesis, from breeder seed to foundation seed, and from foundation seed to certified seed, the synthesizer may hybridize or synthesize different genetic material for each seed multiplication stage. This practice provides for a reduction of inbreeding.

Alternatively, the synthesizer may recombine the plants and clones in step 112 to produce prebreeder seed. The synthesizer may subject the prebreeder seed to further forage yield evaluation in forage test trials and may space plant the prebreeder seed in progeny nurseries for uniformity tests in step 114. The synthesizer records data for winterhardiness, fall dormancy, flowering frequency, and flowering dates. The synthesizer produces breeder seed from the prebreeder seed showing uniformity in and having predetermined winterhardiness, fall dormancy, flower frequency and flowering dates, and having high forage yields, in step 130.

The synthesizer may produce foundation seeds in step 140 from the breeder seeds. The synthesizer may use control pollination to produce foundation seeds if the breeder seeds produced in step 130 comprise a CMS strain. Otherwise, the synthesizer may produce foundation seeds using random pollination. The foundation seeds may be the source for commercial or certified seeds in step 150. The synthesizer may employ control pollination to produce 75-100% hybrids for certified seed production. Alternatively, the synthesizer may use a combination of control and random pollination produce a strain of 75%-100% hybrids. In addition, the synthesizer may use the combination of control and random pollenization to produce a strain of 74% or less hybrids. The synthesizer releases a product comprising the certified seeds in step 160.

In one example embodiment, the synthesizer may make several types of plantings for breeder seed increase in step 110. First, the synthesizer plants plots of alternating rows of CMS plants from cuttings and maintainer plants from cuttings. The synthesizer may place a "cage" over each plot. The cage prevents contamination from pollen sources other than the maintainer lines. This method allows the CMS plants to produce a hybrid A₁ ×B₁ in a first plot, A₂ ×B₂ in a second plot, etc.

Second, the synthesizer plants plots of alternating rows of CMS plants, from cuttings, and restorer plants, from cuttings or transplants or plants grown from selfed seeds, in isolated areas or in a cage to prevent contamination from pollen sources other than the restorer line. This method allows the CMS plants to produce a hybrid A₁ ×R₁ in a first plot, A₂ ×R₂ in a second plot, etc.

Third, the synthesizer plants plots of alternating rows of CMS plants, from cuttings, and "C" plants, from cuttings or transplants or plants grown from selfed seeds, in isolated fields, or in a cage, to prevent contamination from pollen sources other than a selected "C" line. This method allows the CMS plants to produce a hybrid A₁ ×C₁ in a first plot, A₂ ×C₂ in a second plot, etc.

In each of the above described cases, the synthesizer may use, for example, honey bees, leaf cutter bees, alkali bees, wild bees or other means for pollination. The synthesizer harvests the seed produced from CMS plants in bulk separately from maintainer lines, restorer lines and "C" lines, each of which the synthesizer also harvests separately in bulk. These plantings yield hybrid crosses of A×B, A×R, and A×C.

In one example embodiment, 60% or more plants comprising a strain exhibiting the same fall dormancy score defines the strain to be uniform for fall dormancy. Likewise, 70% or more of the plants comprising a strain exhibiting the same flower frequency defines the strain to be uniform for flower frequency. With respect to flowering dates, 60% or more of the plants comprising a strain having flowering dates within a range of three days defines the strain to be uniform for flowering dates. 70% or more plants comprising a strain exhibiting the same winter injury resistance score defines the strain to be uniform for winter injury resistance.

In one example embodiment, the synthesizer may produce foundation seed in step 140 using the following types of crosses.

A×B Foundation Seed

The synthesizer plants an isolated field in a pattern of separate rows of breeder CMS seed and breeder maintainer seed. The pattern may comprise two or more rows of breeder seed, for example B₁ ×B₁ or B₁ ×B₂, for every one or more rows of CMS seed. The CMS plants produce hybrid seed, for example A₁ ×B₁ ×B₁ or A₁ ×B₁ ×B₂. The synthesizer harvests the seed from the CMS plants in bulk separately from maintainer seed from the maintainer plants.

A×R Foundation Seed

The synthesizer plants an isolated field in a pattern of separate rows of breeder CMS seed and breeder restorer seed. The pattern may comprise two or more rows of breeder seed, for example R₁ ×R₁ or R₁ ×R₂, followed by a vacant row, followed by two or more rows of breeder CMS seed, for example (A₃ ×B ₃) The CMS plants produce hybrid seed, for example (A₃ ×B₃)×R₁ or (A₃ ×B₃)×(R₁ ×R₂). The synthesizer harvests the seed from the CMS plants in bulk separately from restorer seed from the restorer plants.

A×C Foundation Seed

The synthesizer plants an isolated field in a pattern of separate rows of breeder CMS seed and breeder "C" seed. The pattern may comprise two or more rows of breeder seed, for example, C₁ ×C₁ or C₁ ×C₂, followed by a vacant row, followed by two or more rows of breeder CMS seed, for example, A₁ ×B₁. The CMS plants produce hybrid seed, for example (A₁ ×B₁)×C₁ or (A₂ ×B₂)×C₂. The synthesizer harvests seed from the CMS plants in bulk separately from seed from the "C" line plants.

C₁ ×C₂ Foundation Seed

The synthesizer plants an isolated field of breeder seed of two or more "C" lines in rows. The synthesizer harvests the seed in bulk.

In one example embodiment, the synthesizer may produce the certified seed in step 150 as follows.

Hybrid Certified Seed

The synthesizer plants an isolated field of separate rows of CMS and pollenizer seed with the foundation seed. The synthesizer may design these plantings in any fashion to produce at least 75% hybrid seed. In one example, the field design may comprise two to four pollenizer rows, followed by a vacant row, followed with two to eight CMS rows. The pollenizer seed may comprise an A×R, A×C, C×C, inbred, restorer or "C" line. The CMS plants produce a hybrid seed product that may be harvested in bulk separately from the pollenizer line.

Alternatively, the synthesizer may plant a homogeneous mix of CMS and pollenizer seeds in a predetermined ratio. The synthesizer may select the ratio to produce 75% or greater hybrid seed. The synthesizer harvests the hybrid and pollenizer seeds together in bulk. This method may produce a seed product comprising a homogeneous assemblage of seeds having a high degree of uniformity for predetermined flowering dates, flower frequency, fall dormancy and winterhardiness.

Non-Hybrid Certified Seed

The synthesizer plants isolated fields with the following possible combinations of foundation seed. The synthesizer may plant only one combination in each isolated field.

A×B and A×R

A×B and A×C

A×B and R

A×B and C

A×B and C×C

A₁ ×C₁ and A₂ ×C₂

C₁ ×C₂ and C₃ ×C₄

C₁ mixed with C₂

The synthesizer harvests the certified seed produced from these plantings in bulk.

The present invention will be described in greater detail by reference to the following examples which are given here for illustrative purposes only and are by no means intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

EXAMPLE 1

Several 10-foot rows, having 30 seeds/row of the commercially-available variety P5432, were planted in 1991 at Clinton, Wis. Data for flowering dates were collected in 1992. Table V sets forth collected flowering date data.

                  TABLE V                                                          ______________________________________                                         P5432 - Flowering Date                                                                1st F.D.   2nd F.D. 3rd F.D.                                            ______________________________________                                         No. of   153          174      211                                             days for                                                                       1st plant                                                                      to flower                                                                      No. of   4            5        6                                               days from                                                                      initial                                                                        flowering                                                                      to 60%                                                                         flowering                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

This data shows that for the P5432 seed tested, the first flowering date occurred 153 days from Jan. 1, and within four days, 60% of the plants had flowered. The second flowering date occurred 174 days from Jan. 1, and within five days, 60% of the plants had flowered a second time. The third flowering date occurred 211 days from Jan. 1, and within six days, 60% of the plants had flowered a third time.

EXAMPLE 2

Several 10-foot rows, having 30 seeds/row of seeds from the early maturing experimental cross E93×E3392, were planted in 1991 at Clinton, Wis. Experimental cross E93×E92 is derived from a cross between standard Teweles Multistrain CMS and "C" lines. Table VI sets forth flowering date data collected in 1992.

                  TABLE VI                                                         ______________________________________                                         E93 × E92 - Flowering Date                                                       1st F.D.                                                                             2nd F.D.   3rd F.D. 4th F.D.                                     ______________________________________                                         No. of    144     170        196    245                                        days for                                                                       1st plant                                                                      to flower                                                                      No. of    1       3          3      3                                          days from                                                                      initial                                                                        flowering                                                                      to 60%                                                                         flowering                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

This data shows a marked improvement in uniformity of flowering dates. 60% of the E₉₃ ×E₉₂ plants flowered within one day of the first flowering date. The E₉₃ ×E₉₂ plants reached the 60% flowering mark within three days for each of the second, third and fourth flowering dates. Furthermore, for this strain, the E₉₃ ×E.sub.ρ plants reached the first flowering date a full nine days earlier than the commercial variety P5432.

EXAMPLE 3

Several 10-foot rows, having 30seeds/row of seeds from the mid-maturity experimental crosses M61×M63 and M3×M11, were planted in 1991 at Clinton, Wis. M61×M63 is a selection from the commercially available Teweles Multistrain blend. Each of these strains was produced by selecting for mid-range maturity, as opposed to early or late maturity. Tables VIIa and VIIb set forth the flowering date data collected in 1992.

                  TABLE VIIa                                                       ______________________________________                                         M61 × M63 - Flowering Date                                                      1st F.D.   2nd F.D. 3rd F.D.                                            ______________________________________                                         No. of   154          177      202                                             days for                                                                       1st plant                                                                      to flower                                                                      No. of   0            2        3                                               days from                                                                      initial                                                                        flowering                                                                      to 60%                                                                         flowering                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE VIIb                                                       ______________________________________                                         M3 × M11 - Flowering Date                                                       1st F.D.   2nd F.D. 3rd F.D.                                            ______________________________________                                         No. of   158          179      202                                             days for                                                                       1st plant                                                                      to flower                                                                      No. of   0            2        3                                               days from                                                                      initial                                                                        flowering                                                                      to 60%                                                                         flowering                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

This data shows a marked improvement in uniformity of flowering dates as compared against currently available commercial varieties. 60% of the plants flowered on the same day for the first flowering date for M61×M63. 60% of the plants flowered for the second time within two days for the second flowering date and within three days for the third flowering date. 60% of the plants flowered on the same day for the first flowering date for M3×M11, 158 days from Jan. 1. 60% of the plants flowered for the second time within two days for the second flowering date and within three days for the 3rd flowering date.

EXAMPLE 4

Several 10-foot rows, having 30 seeds/row from the late maturing experimental clones L80, experimental cross L45×L47 and experimental cross L21×L22, were planted in 1991 at Clinton, Wis. Self progenies of experimental clone L80were derived from the product of a cross between a strain produced from a selection from the unknown variety located in Loyal, Wis. and a strain produced from a selection from Durastan. Experimental cross L45×L47 was derived from L45, produced from a Teweles Multistrain×WAPRS×Kanza cross, and L47, a late-maturing selection derived from BIC-5BW. Experimental cross L21×L22 was derived from L21, a late-maturing selection from commercial variety Futura and L22, a late-maturing selection from commercial variety KS204. Tables VIII, IXa and IXb set forth the flowering date data collected 1992.

                  TABLE VIII                                                       ______________________________________                                         L80 - Flowering Date                                                                  1st F.D.   2nd F.D. 3rd F.D.                                            ______________________________________                                         No. of   160          191      240                                             days for                                                                       1st plant                                                                      to flower                                                                      No. of   1            3        1                                               days from                                                                      initial                                                                        flowering                                                                      to 60%                                                                         flowering                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE IXa                                                        ______________________________________                                         L45 × L47 - Flowering Date                                                      1st F.D.   2nd F.D. 3rd F.D.                                            ______________________________________                                         No. of   161          190      229                                             days for                                                                       1st plant                                                                      to flower                                                                      No. of   1            2        7                                               days from                                                                      initial                                                                        flowering                                                                      to 60%                                                                         flowering                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE IXb                                                        ______________________________________                                         L22 × L21                                                                       1st F.D.   2nd F.D. 3rd F.D.                                            ______________________________________                                         No. of   162          186      229                                             days for                                                                       1st plant                                                                      to flower                                                                      No. of   0            1        3                                               days from                                                                      initial                                                                        flowering                                                                      to 60%                                                                         flowering                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

This data shows a marked improvement in uniformity of flowering dates. 60% of the L80 and L45×L47 plants flowered within one day for the first flowering date. 60% of the L22×L21 plants flowered on the same day for the first flowering date. For these strains, the 60% flowering mark was reached within 1 to 3 days for the second flowering date. 60% of the L80 plants flowered within 1 day for the third flowering date. The L45×L47 plants showed variation for the third flowering date, reaching the 60% flowering mark within seven days. 60% of the L22×L21 plants flowered within 3 days for the third flowering date. All three strains showed late maturation. For example, the first Julienne flowering dates, 160, 161 and 162 days, respectively, were significantly later than currently available commercial varieties known by the applicant as shown on Table III.

EXAMPLE 5

Several 10-foot rows, having 30 seeds/row from the CMS experimental cross A42×MNB1, were planted in 1991 at Clinton, Wis. The CMS cross A42×MNB1 was derived from the product of a cross between A42, a mid-maturity Vernal selection, and MNB1, a mid-maturity selection from a Minnesota released Phytophthora Resistant germplasm. Table X sets forth the flowering date data collected in 1992.

                  TABLE X                                                          ______________________________________                                         A42 × MNB1 - Flowering Date                                                      1st F.D.                                                                             2nd F.D.   3rd F.D. 4th F.D.                                     ______________________________________                                         No. of    153     178        203    246                                        days for                                                                       1st plant                                                                      to flower                                                                      No. of    1       3          3      3                                          days from                                                                      initial                                                                        flowering                                                                      to 60%                                                                         flowering                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

This data shows a marked improvement in uniformity of flowering dates. Within 1 day of the first flower date, 60% of the A42×MNB1 plants flowered. The A42×MNB1plants reached the 60% flowering mark within 3 days for each of the second, third, and fourth flowering dates.

EXAMPLE 6

Several 10-foot rows, having 30 seeds/row of seed from the CMS experimental cross A16-691×MPH2, were planted in 1991 at Clinton, Wis. The CMS cross A16- 691×MPH2 was derived from A16-691, a mid-maturity selection from Multistrain X Tempo, and MPH2, a mid maturity selection from Teweles Multistrain. Table XI sets forth the flowering date data collected in 1992.

                  TABLE XI                                                         ______________________________________                                         A16-691 × MPH2 - Flowering Date                                                 1st F.D.   2nd F.D. 3rd F.D.                                            ______________________________________                                         No. of   157          182      214                                             days for                                                                       1st plant                                                                      to flower                                                                      No. of   1            3        3                                               days from                                                                      initial                                                                        flowering                                                                      to 60%                                                                         flowering                                                                      ______________________________________                                    

This data also shows a marked improvement in uniformity of flowering dates. Within 60% of the A16-691×MPH 2 plants flowered within 1 day of the first flower date. The A16-691×MPH2 plants reached the 60% flowering mark within 3 days for each of the second and third flowering dates.

FIGS. 2A and 2B show example embodiments of a harvesting schedule that may be established with the novel alfalfa product of the invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B show the number of days from planting to flowering for three different strains of alfalfa and the number of days between flowerings of the three different strains of alfalfa. A farmer may advantageously use the varieties and strains of the present invention to maximize yield and quality at harvesting. As shown in FIG. 2A, a farmer may plant E93×E92, M61×M63 and L45×L47 strains in separate 40-acre fields. The farmer may then harvest the fields according to the flowering date schedule shown in FIG. 2A. The farmer may harvest the field having alfalfa at a desired maturity to provide for a maximum quality of the alfalfa. In contrast, if a farmer were to plant a 100 acre field with, for example, only standard Vernal or Saranac varieties, or both, the farmer would have to harvest the entire field at the same time to maximize the quality of the alfalfa. As one harvester generally may cut only about 40 acres per day, and as a progressive dairy farmer generally grows more than a hundred acres of alfalfa for feed, ordinary commercial varieties result in inefficient harvesting in terms of maximizing quality of the product. Similarly, the farmer may schedule harvesting according to FIG. 2B, using the E93×E92, M61×M63 and L22×L21 strains. The harvesting schedule provides the following advantages.

1. Maximizes alfalfa product quality at harvest.

2. Reduces the magnitude of risk of weather (rain) damage to alfalfa in the drying process after cutting.

3. Reduces the magnitude of risk of weather (rain) damaging the quality of alfalfa by delaying harvest.

4. Increases labor distribution efficiency.

5. Use of early maturity alfalfa provides feed earlier.

6. Use of late maturity alfalfa will provide a wider harvest window.

7. Selecting a proper maturity alfalfa for a given geographic area may reduce the risk of winter kill.

Those modifications and equivalents which fall within the spirit of the invention are to be considered a part thereof.

The invention has been described herein in considerable detail in order to comply with the Patent Statutes and to provide those skilled in the art with the information needed to apply the novel principles and to construct and use such specialized components as are required. However, it is to be understood that the invention can be carried out by specifically different methods and technologies, and that various modifications, both as to the technological details and operating procedures, can be accomplished without departing from the scope of the invention itself. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for synthesizing an alfalfa product wherein the alfalfa product has an improved uniformity of a preselected trait, wherein the method for synthesizing the alfalfa product comprises the step of:(a) selecting alfalfa germplasm coding for genetically desirable agronomic triats; (b) growing a plurality of alfalfa plants from the alfalfa germplasm; (c) classifying each one of the plurality of alfalfa plants by the preselected trait into a parent trait class, wherein the preselected trait is selected from the group consisting of flowering date, flower frequency and maturity rate; (d) growing a progeny for one of the plurality of alfalfa plants; (e) classifying the progeny by the preselected trait into a progeny trait class; and (f) synthesizing the alfalfa product from any plurality of alfalfa plants or or progeny whose progeny trait class is the same as the parent trait class.
 2. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 wherein step a), selecting alfalfa germplasm, further comprises the steps of:a) performing disease and insect screening on the alfalfa germplasm; and b) transplanting surviving alfalfa germplasm into a field or clonal nursery.
 3. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 wherein step c), classifying each one of the plurality of alfalfa plants by the preselected trait into a parent trait class, further comprises the steps of:a) grouping the plurality of alfalfa plants according to classification; b) selecting at least one alfalfa plant high in quality and other desirable agronomic traits; and c) discarding agronomically undesirable alfalfa plants.
 4. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 3 wherein step a), grouping the plurality of alfalfa plants according to classification, further comprises the step of:(a) grouping the plurality of alfalfa plants according to product development purposes, wherein the product development purposes are selected from the group consisting of flowering dates, flower frequency, fall dormancy, maturity rate, growth rate and winterhardiness.
 5. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 wherein step d), growing a progeny for one of the plurality of alfalfa plants, further comprises performing a poly cross and a selfing.
 6. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 wherein step d), growing a progeny for one of the plurality of alfalfa plants, further comprises performing a top cross.
 7. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 wherein step d), growing a progeny for one of the plurality of alfalfa plants, further comprises performing a crossing block.
 8. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 further comprises performing a forage yield test simultaneously with step e).
 9. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:a) harvesting a plurality of alfalfa seeds from any plurality of alfalfa plants or progeny whose progeny trait class is the same as the parent trait class; b) producing a plurality of breeder seeds from alfalfa seeds harvested in step a), harvesting a plurality of alfalfa seeds; c) producing a plurality of foundation seeds from the plurality breeder seeds; and d) producing a plurality of commercial or certified seeds from the plurality of foundation seeds.
 10. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 9 wherein the plurality of foundation seeds is produced by crossing CMS breeder seed with breeder maintainer seed.
 11. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 9 wherein the plurality of foundation seeds is produced by crossing CMS breeder seed with breeder restorer seed.
 12. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 9 wherein the plurality of foundation seeds is produced by crossing CMS breeder seed with breeder seed having normal cytoplasm.
 13. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 9 wherein the plurality of foundation seeds is produced by crossing a plurality of strains having normal cytoplasm.
 14. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 9 wherein a plurality of hybrid certified seeds is produced by crossing CMS foundation seeds with pollenizer foundation seeds.
 15. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 wherein control pollination is employed to produce a strain of 75-100% hybrids.
 16. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 wherein a combination of control pollination and random pollination is employed to produce a strain of 75-100% hybrids.
 17. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 wherein a combination of control pollination and random pollination is employed to produce a strain of 74% or less hybrids.
 18. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 wherein cytoplasmic male sterile plants are used in at least one of steps b, d or f.
 19. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 1 wherein the alfalfa germplasm further comprises cytoplasmic male sterile lines, genetic male sterile lines, maintainer lines, restorer lines and "C" lines.
 20. A method for synthesizing an alfalfa product wherein the alfalfa product has an improved uniformity of a preselected trait, wherein the method for synthesizing the alfalfa product comprises the steps of:(a) selecting alfalfa germplasm coding for genetically desirable agronomic traits; (b) growing a plurality of alfalfa plants from the alfalfa germplasm; and (c) classifying each one of the plurality of alfalfa plants by the preselected trait into a parent trait class, wherein the preselected trait is selected from the group consisting of flowering date, flower frequency and maturity rate.
 21. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 20 further comprising the steps of:(a) growing a progeny for one of the plurality of alfalfa plants; (b) classifying the progeny by the preselected trait into a progeny trait class; and (c) synthesizing the alfalfa product from any plurality of alfalfa plants or progeny whose progeny trait class is the same as the parent trait class.
 22. A method for sequential harvesting of alfalfa varieties comprising the steps of:(a) providing a plurality of alfalfa varieties, wherein each of the plurality of alfalfa varieties has at least one maximum quality date separated by at least three days from all other maximum quality dates of each one of the plurality of varieties; (b) planting each one of the plurality of alfalfa varieties; and (c) separately harvesting a selected one of the plurality of alfalfa varieties within a predetermined number of days of the at least one maximum quality date of the selected one of the plurality of alfalfa varieties.
 23. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 9 wherein the plurality of foundation seeds is produced by crossing CMS breeder seed with breeder maintainer seed wherein the CMS breeder seed and the breeder maintainer seed have an equal flower frequency and a similar development rate.
 24. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 9 wherein the plurality of foundation seeds is produced by crossing CMS breeder seed with breeder restorer seed wherein the CMS breeder seed and the breeder restorer seed have an equal flower frequency and a similar development rate.
 25. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 9 wherein the plurality of foundation seeds is produced by crossing CMS breeder seed with breeder seed having normal cytoplasm wherein the CMS breeder seed and the breeder seed having normal cytoplasm have an equal flower frequency and a similar development rate.
 26. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 9 wherein the plurality of foundation seeds is produced by crossing a plurality of strains having normal cytoplasm wherein the plurality of strains having normal cytoplasm have an equal flower frequency and a similar development rate.
 27. The method for synthesizing an alfalfa product of claim 9 wherein a plurality of hybrid certified seeds is produced by crossing CMS foundation seeds with pollenizer foundation seeds wherein the CMS foundation seeds and the pollenizer foundation seeds have an equal flower frequency and a similar development rate.
 28. A method for synthesizing an alfalfa product wherein the alfalfa product has an improved uniformity of two or more preselected traits, wherein the method for synthesizing the alfalfa product comprises the steps of:(a) selecting alfalfa germplasm coding for genetically desirable agronomic traits; (b) growing a plurality of alfalfa plants from the alfalfa germplasm; (c) classifying each one of the plurality of alfalfa plants by the two or more preselected traits into a parent trait class, wherein the two or more preselected traits are selected from the group consisting of flowering date, flower frequency and maturity rate; (d) growing a progeny for one of the plurality of alfalfa plants; (e) classifying the progeny by the two or more preselected traits into a progeny trait class; and (f) synthesizing the alfalfa product from any plurality of alfalfa plants or progeny whose progeny trait class is the same as the parent trait class. 